September 15 - Day 28

Slept in, woke to gray skies, humid but cool.  It’s spitting rain here and there.  Find the ceiling over our tub is leaking water into the tub.  There are no rooms above us.  They say they’ll fix it while we’re out.  We never take for granted that messages are received, understood or given.  The customer service thing is vague at times not just at the hotel.  Quick breakfast at the Club.  Underground to Victoria and Albert Museum out in Kensington.  This huge ornate Victorian brick building has gone through many modernizations while trying to retain original design.  Gone is the poky little gift shop and now big glassed-in shop.  The entry still has the large pendulum Chihuli glass sculpture.  This museum collection is much like Granny’s attic, odds and ends of sculpture, furniture, fabrics, design etc.  Although design is a strong theme here. We stop by the old dining rooms, each decorated by past designers.  William Morris designs are housed here.  There is a huge courtyard with a reflection pond.  On our way out the door Pat just happens to spot a strange sculpture.  It is a 20 foot high, 10 foot diameter pyramidal stack of thousands of Lilliputian sized porcelain shops.  The artist collected pictures of shops all over London, starting with those that are derelict at the bottom and building to the top with high end retail like Harrod’s.  He commissioned the creation of the shops including having their picture fired on them in the Potteries of England.  It was a really fun piece but it also underscores the understanding that London is a city of small shops and consumerism/trade is and has always been an important part of its life style and economy.  The charity shops will be auctioned to benefit charities and the rest of the shops will eventually be sold off.  The sculpture will be dismantled and becomes only a memory.  A pity.  The light rain has stopped, now periods of clouds and sun.  The rain actually cleared the humidity. Walk down the street to Harrod’s.  It was bought by a wealthy Egyptian some years ago.  His son is the one that Princess Diana was engaged to marry when both she and he were killed.  Her engagement ring and two champagne toast glasses are on display.  Harrods’ is a top retailer and there are many luxury items including the famous food hall.  Now many small theme cafes are part of it.  The souvenirs take up half a floor.  Pat resists, just wanting to check things out. It’s a huge old store that has a confusing floor plan.  Also, the ground floor in all stores is not the first floor.  Every large department store, except Marks and Spencer’s, makes customers walk the gauntlet of perfume and make-up sales people.  The central escalators are decorated in Egyptian theme.  We go back to St. Martin’s in the Field church.  Today’s concert is a piano and violin duet. Very beautiful music.  Pass through Trafalgar Square to get a treat for Chuck.  Stop at pub called the Admiralty facing the Square.  We try a couple hand pulled cask ales and they are pretty good.  We share a steak and ale pie which is very good.  We have rarely used Charring Cross station, it is combined underground and national train service.  We do so today.  It’s a bit un-nerving, the police at all the national rail stops are carrying machine guns.  God help us if they ever fire inside these enclosures with these huge throngs of people.  There are CCTV cameras everywhere in the city, not just in the stations.  If you pick your nose in London, someone somewhere has seen you do it!  LOL.  Get on the train before the rush hour and arrive on Oxford St. the shopping street.  Stop in John Lewis and Debenhams department stores.  Fun to see the different fashions etc.  Walk back to the hotel and start to pack.  We haven’t followed much in the news, papers or TV.  But have heard the discussions that the EU is having on how to deal with the Syrian refugees.  It’s very different in that the European countries are so attached through the Union.  They are all trying to decide who will take them, how many, and what is the long term effect.  I have heard said that the US is dragging its feet and not claiming our shared.  It changes our outlook on the US, we look more isolated in the world.  Parliament is in an upset, the left branch of the Liberal Party has won and must create a new cabinet. And comments on our presidential debates and candidates are of interest.  Unfortunately, it’s Donald Trump and Sarah Palin that seem to get the media attention.  It makes us look foolish and we’re not.   In one way it’s hard to believe we go home tomorrow, but it’s also time to go.  We think we planned our time very well and have enjoyed it all.  It’s very unlikely that we will ever return, but never say never!  The blisters will have time to heal at home.  Seth says the house is in good shape so should be an easy homecoming.  Chuck going back to work day after tomorrow and it will take a week to undo a month away. Brenna coming back for a week’s visit in a week and a half.  So more to look forward to.  We’re glad to think we have had friends and family riding along with us on the trip.  The Scotland bus trip already seems like a dream!  Glad to have our notes and pictures to remember it!  Cabbing to Paddington train station and then taking Heathrow Express to our United flight, Chicago first and then home.  We are grateful for the kindness of strangers and friends and awed by the care and competence of all the people movers who have delivered us safely to our destinations.  The clouds have parted, London is giving us one last sunset!  Nighty Night!

Have talked about the subways.  They are clean, no trash and nearly no graffiti at all.  This mode of people mover relies on a lot of tolerance and decency in order to make it work. People are generally respectful of the rules.  We have witnessed random acts of kindness between strangers.  Besides people there are backpacks, shopping bags, rolling suitcases and duffle bags.  And then there are the prams. People actually take their babies on board and seem to do well.  Wheel chairs and walking frames cannot be accommodated and see no one with a cane. The voice constantly reminds us to Mind the Gap.  The distance between the car and the platform can be higher or lower and have significant distance between them.  We must always be alert and look down before stepping forward.  We’re sure people in New York City have the same experience except they are more likely to own and drive cars, less of that in London.  One must be reasonably physically fit and have a good understanding of the system’s map.  We are experienced but is very tiring.